News Story

Nicolet College - Nicolet’s Returning to Learning open house paves the way to a college
education for many; next event March 8

Nicolet's Returning to Learning open house pavesthe way to a college education for many; next event March 8

March 1, 2012Jennifer Majewski always knew she wanted to return to college. Taking that step to
actually enroll, however, was something that eluded her for a number of years.

The desire was definitely there, "but I had a lot of questions that I didn't really
know how to get answers to," she said. "That was really holding me back."

Then one day a friend told her about a Returning to Learning open house that was coming
up at Nicolet College. She decided to attend.

"I am so happy I went," Majewski said. "It was such a positive experience and was
exactly what I was looking for. It was so nice to be able to talk to people who had
answers to my questions. It made all the difference."

The Returning to Learning event Majewski attended took place last fall. Today, she
is enrolled in two online classes at Nicolet and following her dream to become a phlebotomist.

"I can guarantee you, if it hadn't been for that event, I would not be back in college,"
she explained.

Majewski's experience is not unique. Many other adults also discovered that the open
house - geared specifically for adults looking to return to college - provided the
extra push they needed to enroll, according to Sandy Kinney, Nicolet's executive director
of Communications and College and Community Initiatives.

"Returning adults tend to have lots of questions about college, and it's common for
many of them to be a little scared about diving into the process," Kinney said. "What
we wanted to do with this open house was remove all of those barriers."

The first event was so successful, in fact, that the college decided to hold another
Returning to Learning event, Kinney added. The next one is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
to 8 p.m., Thursday, March 8, in the Northwoods Center on the Rhinelander campus.

People can drop by the casual event anytime to learn about a wide variety of topics.
These include how to enroll; pay for college; balance school, work and family; and
determine what to study. Informal roundtable discussions will begin every 30 minutes
on these topics and others. Information booths will also be available.

Those attending will have the opportunity to speak with current adult students about
their experiences, learn about new programs at the college, and get a hands-on feel
for taking classes online. Nicolet will also waive the $30 application fee for all
people filling out an application for admission that evening.

When Majewski attended, she completed the application for admission before she left.
"I knew if I didn't sign up then I was never going to do it," she said. "It was really
nice saving the $30, too."

While at the event, she was able to talk to a Nicolet instructor with direct experience
in the phlebotomy field as well as with the director of financial aid who helped her
work out how she could pay for college.

"I can't tell you how nice everyone was and how helpful they were," she said. "They
answered all my questions and that made all the difference. It's awesome how well
things worked out."